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scale insect
noun
: any of numerous small prolific homopterous insects (superfamily Coccoidea) that have winged males, wingless scale-covered females attached to the host plant, and young that suck the juices of plants and some of which are serious pests
Examples of scale insect in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These sprays are great for controlling mites, aphids, leafhoppers, whiteflies, and hard scale insects.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2024
Common Pests & Plant Diseases If there are concave yellow spots on the leaf surfaces, white, cotton-like patches on the leaf backs, or pink nodules on the branches, it is likely caused by scale insects.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2024
Beech leaf disease-causing insects were identified in Ohio around 2013 and pose a further threat to Wisconsin beech trees, which are already prone to the deadly beech bark disease, which was found in Door County around 2009 and is caused by the invasive beech scale insect.
—Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2023
Spring beauty is fleeting, and so is the opportunity to stop scale insects that live on the bark of magnolia trees and suck their sap.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2023
Keep an eye out for an infestation of scale insects.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 28 Apr. 2023
For most of the year, adult magnolia scale insects lie still and flat against the tree’s trunk, protected by a hard shell and a waxy coating, impervious to insecticides.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2023
Most likely scale insects are sucking juices from the foliage and stems which produce excreta to support the growth of the sooty mold fungus.
—Orlando Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2023
The individual scale insects are enrobed in fungal chambers which shield them from predators and the elements, though some are parasitized so the fungus can obtain nutrients.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 16 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scale insect.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1840, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near scale insect
Cite this Entry
“Scale insect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scale%20insect. Accessed 30 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
scale insect
noun
: any of numerous small insects related to aphids and including many destructive plant pests in which the males have wings, the females are scale-covered and are often permanently attached to a host plant, and the young suck the juices of plants
More from Merriam-Webster on scale insect
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about scale insect
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